Having read in depth about the massage benefits of Horseware Ice-Vibe boots, I felt they would be ideal as part of Dexter’s deep digital flexor tendon rehabilitation program by helping to stimulate repair to damaged tissue. I did a bit more digging, only to find positive reviews on trusted sites like Eventing Nation, Chronicle Of the Horse and Horse and Hound. With their thumbs up, I decided to give them a try.
I used a pair of Horseware Ice-Vibe Tendon Boots on Dexter for two months as recovery after controlled exercise to keep the blood circulating. Here’s what I found:
Features
The first thing to note is Horseware’s brilliant packaging. These boots came in a handy tote for storage with meshing to allow airflow and help keep musty smells and mildew at bay. In my Ice Vibe bag was: two boots, two cold packs, two integrated vibrating panels, and a battery charger with four universal adapters.
Overall I was very impressed with the design of these boots. They have a smooth outer to repel shavings and beaded gel packs for optimal fit. I bought them to use on Dexter’s front legs, but due to the contoured design, I could easily use them on his hind legs, too.
Vibrating panels
Each boot came with one vibration panel that easily fit into a stretchy interior pocket. With four pockets overall, I was able to place the panel where I needed it. Sometimes I even took the panel out of the other boot so I could use two on one leg.
The vibrating panels have three settings that correspond to different frequency levels and run times. I primarily used the second setting as it was recommended by the manufacturer for rehabilitation. It features a medium high frequency and turned off after 20 minutes.
The vibrating panels charge on a USB port, so it was incredibly convenient to charge them via my laptop. They charged up in just a few hours and seemed to last about 5-6 uses per charge.
Cold packs
The ice packs independently velcro onto the leg first, before the boot. This design allowed me to position them perfectly on Dexter’s legs without worrying about slippage.
Options
I tried the tendon boots, but you can also get the same product in the form of knee wraps or hock wraps.
Thumbs Up 👍
The best advantage of these boots is that I could set and forget them–meaning I could put them on Dexter while in his stall, cross ties or trailer, and they continued to provide therapy.
Thumbs Down 👎
While the ice packs were soft and pliable straight out of the freezer (competing brands become literal blocks of ice), I found that they only stayed cold for about 10 minutes when used with or without the boots overtop. So I rarely used the ice packs because of this.
Price
Retailing just under $300, these boots are an investment. But they are built to last! I couldn’t put a price on Dexter’s comfort, so that was my justification for purchasing. I also purchased mine directly from the manufacturer.
Bottom Line
As a non-invasive therapeutic boot, these are awesome. They’re great quality, user-friendly and easy to clean. I truly believe they played a small part in Dexter’s rehab program and felt especially good knowing that I couldn’t cause any damage from use. Following workouts they really seemed to keep Dexter’s legs tight and cold–plus they helped with next day stiffness.
However, they are not miracle workers and can’t speed up recovery on their own. I diligently followed the full protocol my vet recommended in addition to using other alternative therapies for soft tissue injuries in horses.
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Find out more about the Horseware Ice-Vibe Boots here.
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